The production agreement was signed at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Airbus will produce the EC175 for the worldwide market at its facility in Marignane, France, while Avicopter will produce the AC352 mainly for the Chinese market.

France and China first launched cooperation on the EC175/AC352 in 2005. The EASA certified the airworthiness of the EC175 earlier this year.

Li Fangyong, executive vice president of Avicopter’s parent company AVIC, said the agreement allows the two companies to “satisfy the Chinese and worldwide market needs in the medium helicopter segment.”